Expert thought

In view of the restrictive 2018 Luhansk People’s Republic statute, it is not surprising that some groups declined to apply for registration, while others were refused. The result is that many religious communities find themselves outside the law…. the 48 Baptist Union congregations have had to cease their activity altogether.

Religious Studies

In the context of recent events in the Orthodox world, disputes over the boundaries of church institutions often arise between the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Kyiv and Moscow. Ukraine accuses Russia of misappropriating the territory of the Kyiv Metropolis. In its turn, Moscow appeals to the fact that the ancient Kyiv Metropolis differs from the territory of modern Ukraine. RISU decided to clarify this topic, getting advice from historians. Based on this research, we prepared an infographic.

The first question that arises concerning Ukraine is this: with what right and based on which holy canons, does Russia today claim the ecclesiastical and administrative dependency of the Metropolis of Kyiv?

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Up to ten our bishops might support the authocephaly, Metropolitan Sofroniy of the UOC (MP)

Up to 10 bishops of the UOC (MP) out of 80 might support the appeal to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople for the bestowal of autocephaly on the Ukrainian Church. This was stated in an interview with "Glavkom" by Metropolitan Sofroniy (Dmytruk) of Cherkasy and Kaniv UOC (MP).

“I have put my signature to attest that I have a desire that such a Church was created. That is, the signature means that I do not object, that I want our Church to be independent,” said the hierarch. According to him, Metropolitan Vissarion (Stretovych) of Ovruch and Korosten also put his signature.

Metropolitan Sofronyi believes that Poroshenko did not act right when he went to Bartholomew to talk about Tomos without consulting with the hierarchs of the UOC (MP) who are supporters of autocephaly.

“I have always had an unchanged position that we need the Church not dependent on anyone. If we consider our history, our church passed or was subordinated to others as a result of political changes ... Now there are several “but” in relation to the recent developments. I mean the wrong actions of the president, politically illiterate, as well as his unwillingness to create an autocephalous church with our hierarchs (UOC-MP) ...” said Bishop Sofroniy. “He takes steps only from his side. And what for are we here (in particular, the hierarchs of the UOC-MP)? In our church there are more than 80 Ukrainian bishops. We were not asked for advice, we were not offered anything. This is an extremely huge mistake, a politically incorrect approach to this issue ... If the president wants to do this, then he should not shout, but gather all of us - bishops , look and ask "in what way do you want it to be done?” This would be a right act, a correct statement of the question,” the Metropolitan emphasized.

The Metropolitan has his vision of how Patriarch Bartholomew should act in this situation: “Patriarch Bartholomew should initially have to cancel the deed that surrendered us to Moscow. It is necessary that the Ecumenical Patriarch during the meeting of the Synod declares that such a resolution be recognized as unlawful ... and therefore we have the right to raise this question before the universal Orthodox Church in order to return Ukraine under the omophorion (under the shoulder) of Constantinople ... “

He also said that “with the blessing of Metropolitan Onufriy” in the dioceses of the UOC-MP, an address to Patriarch Bartholomew is being distributed with a request for the establishment of such an “exarchate” in Ukraine.

“I was provided such a piece of paper. The secretary let me read it. It was ordered that I send such papers to deans (priests), in order to sign them. It was written there that the UOC becomes subject to Constantinople, which organizes its exarchate in Ukraine. Like, we will be in the exarchate of Constantinople. I do not understand those who wrote these papers, I do not understand their desire. Therefore, in my eparchy, no one will sign such papers.”

Answering the question: How will the UOC (MP) act in the event that the Ecumenical Patriarch bestows the Tomos of autocephaly, the Metropolitan replied:

“One way or another, some persons will be dissatisfied, no doubt. But why should we be afraid of split? It already exists, and not one, but three of them in Ukraine. Well, there will be one more. And so what? Our church will remain! And if you do not want to, then please organize your parishes as does the Russian Orthodox Church abroad, where it has its parishes, bishops. It will be alike in Ukraine. Because they keep scaring us with the split. Let them even pray for Putin.”

"If we still have one church, we will unite, we must be canonically and eucharistically united. There will be a lot of problems, but God grant that we were united,” summed up Metropolitan Sofroniy.